In a surprising revelation this morning, Opeth and Nuclear Blast both revealed via Facebook that the band had signed to Nuclear Blast Records.

Scheduling the band’s next release, their 12th studio album Sorceress, for a fall release of this year, this should come to a surprise given the band’s busy schedule over the past few years since the release of Pale Communion. The official press release is as follows:

“Nuclear Blast Entertainment is very pleased to announce the signing of Swedish progressive legends, OPETH. Always an unstoppable force for uniqueness amid a sea of generic swill, OPETH have been setting the rulebook ablaze, and ploughing a uniquely progressive and exploratory furrow for over 25 years now. Neither conforming nor exhibiting any desire to be restricted to a single genre, OPETH, quite simply, have a time honored tradition of blowing our minds with both class and forward thinking. All these years later, nothing and everything has changed once again with their forthcoming album »Sorceress«.

“We’re happy to confirm that we have indeed signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment and will be putting out our 12th studio album »Sorceress« via our own imprint, Moderbolaget Records,” states Mikael Åkerfeldt. “The decision was made in Markus Staiger’s (Nuclear Blast kingpin) ridiculously potent Porsche going at 150 mph somewhere in the south of Germany. We’re happy to be part of the NB team and look forward to a fruitful relationship.”

Nuclear Blast owner, Markus Staiger, continues:
“I am honored that OPETH have joined the Nuclear Blast family. Mikael Åkerfeldt and his fellow bandmates have demonstrated time and time again that OPETH are a band that never release an album that sounds the same. You never know what their new music will sound like! Nuclear Blast has been following the musical journey of OPETH from the beginning with »Orchid« to landmark albums like »Still Life«, »Deliverance«, »Damnation« and »Blackwater Park«, right up to 2014’s »Pale Communion«! The band have become one of the most challenging artists in rock music today. It is not often that we get to work with musicians of their caliber and I’m thrilled to have such a unique genre-leader on the label. The future for OPETH and Nuclear Blast looks very bright.”

Monte Conner, Nuclear Blast Entertainment president adds:
“OPETH are a band that have continually evolved and moved forward at every stage. Always innovating and always continuing to challenge themselves as players and writers. They are simply fearless. I can’t wait to hear what they come up with next! It’s an amazing feeling to be reunited with one of my favorite bands and I look forward to my colleagues here at Nuclear Blast being able to have their own OPETH experience and role in the band’s continuing journey. I want to thank Mikael Åkerfeldt and OPETH for putting their faith and trust in everyone here at Nuclear Blast.”

OPETH are currently in the studio with Tom Dalgety putting the finishing touches on Sorceress. A release for the album is tentatively scheduled for the fall via Moderbolaget Records / Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

OPETH live:

17.06.  S          Gothenburg – Ullevi Stadium (w/ IRON MAIDEN)
02.07.  E          Barcelona – Be Prog! My Friend
07.07.  FIN       Helsinki – Monsters Of Rock Festival
09.07.  IS         Neskaupstadur – Eistnaflug Festival
30.09.  FIN       Oulu – Qstock Festival
05.08.  P          Corroios – Vagos Open Air Festival
19.08.  B          Hasselt – Pukkelpop Festival
24.09.  USA     San Bernardino, CA – Ozzfest
01.10.  USA     New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
04.10.  CDN     Montreal, QC – Metropolis (w/ THE SWORD)
05.10.  CDN     Toronto, ON – Massey Hall (w/ THE SWORD)
26.10.  CDN     Vancouver, BC – Orpheum (w/ THE SWORD)

05.11.  S          Stockholm – Annexet
06.11.  N         Oslo – Konserthus
07.11.  DK       Copenhagen – DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen
08.11.  D         Hamburg – Docks
10.11.  A          Vienna – Arena
11.11.  D         Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
12.11.  D         Munich – Theaterfabrik
13.11.  CH       Zurich – Volkshaus
14.11.  I           Milan – Alcatraz
16.11.  D         Cologne – E-Werk
18.11.  NL        Tilburg – 013
19.11.  UK       London – SSE Arena Wembley
21.11.  F          Paris – Le Trianon
23.11.  LUX      Luxemburg – Den Atelier
24.11.  D         Berlin – Astra Kulturhaus

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More info:
www.opeth.com
www.facebook.com/opeth
www.nuclearblast.de/opeth”

The band’s previous two releases have been a stark departure from their progressive death metal sound, in favor of progressive rock, a genre that the band has been vocal about enjoying for many years. It seems given certain keywords in the statement that Sorceress will continue in that direction.